A READING charity is calling for more support as the cost of living crisis impacts struggling families.
Home-Start Reading is appealing for volunteers to help it give aid to families across the town.
Its volunteers work alongside a team of experts which can help families with a range of complex issues affecting parents and children, such as health and disability, social and relational issues, bereavement, abuse, and financial difficulty.
The charity provides full training for volunteers, mostly online but with some final in-person sessions to make sure they are ready.
Volunteers will be matched with a family and typically spend two-to-three hours a week visiting a family in their home providing practical support and guidance.
The charity said it had been “inundated” with referrals in recent months.
Manager Kelly Dadd said, “Our volunteers make such a huge difference to mums and dads with young children who are struggling in the face of a complex range of issues.
“Within six months to a year, they can really help them turn their lives around.”
She continued: “Making the decision to pause referrals was incredibly difficult, but it would have been irresponsible to continue letting our waiting lists grow.
“We are working hard to build up capacity so we can help more families, and increasing our team of volunteers is a key part of that.”
One of the service’s beneficiaries recently said: “I’d be dead without my volunteer.
“She has been amazing, kind, patient, understanding, friendly, supportive, caring, thoughtful, available, hardworking, easygoing, and much more.
“She is my lifesaver.”
More information about supporting Home-Start Reading can be found via: www.home-start-reading.org.uk/volunteer or by contacting one of the co-ordinators, Julie on 0748 311 3679 or Marion on 0748 311 3681.
